Founder of new Monton runners group wants more to join his running family

The founder of a new Monton running group, Monton Runners, welcomes anyone from the Salford community to join the group’s current 500 members. 

Founding member Joel Shevlin opened the running group in December and in the first two months of launching, the group now has over 500 members.

The group meets twice a week completing a 4km run on Mondays and an 8km run on Thursdays and each run has a tail runner provided for members who take it a bit slower or are getting into the swing of running again.

Shevlin said: “I wanted to try and start running before the New Year, it gained a lot of traction straight away.”

Shevlin became an avid runner joining fellow Salford running group GMRC.

He added, “It helped me lose a lot of weight and improve my lifestyle. I was reaping the rewards.”

On top of progressing on his lifestyle and physical health. Joel quit drinking alcohol which he admitted played a big role in improving his lifestyle, saying: “Since I quit I found I had more energy, more focus and it allowed me to create consistency.”

On top of this, he said: “I was able to gain a lot of confidence and allowed me to work on current projects I have going on.”

Shevlin wanted to make running a core part of his lifestyle and was able to commit to running more because of this.

As for the Monton running group, it was Joel’s idea originally and anybody is welcome to join.

When looking at his members, Shevlin proudly said: “I have seen so much progress in my members, it is great to see the benefit it is having on people’s lives in the local area.”

Striving on the casual and social element, which is said to be just as important, if not more, than the physical benefits the group offers. Shevlin firmly said: “I want it to be casual, I want it to be social, I want it to be laid back, I want people to have fun.”

On Mondays, the social run starts at 7.30pm, meeting outside Costa on Monton road, down to Swinton Greenway, up to Campbell Road onto Parrin lane back around to Costa.

The Thursday night run is a bit of a faster pace.

Shevlin said: “I am designing a couple extra routes, an 8km, 10km, and a 12km route.”

“We have bigger plans for the future, but I am taking it one step at a time, I like the casual element and don’t want the group to turn to something you have to subscribe to.”

Outside of running the group also has a “USP” of hosting social hikes which many members take part in.

Shevlin finally added: “There is no pressure at all, it is free, friendly and fun.”

You can find out more information here.